Cleo. Suppose I should own, that it was a Contrivance of those, who composed the Prayers, to raise Devotion, and that this Contrivance had been the Effect of a thorough Knowledge of Human Nature; where would be the Harm, since No body can be injured by it? But to return to our Subject. If Difference in the least Things is capable of raising Anger, there is no Doubt, but it will do it most in Things that are very material, and of the highest Concern: And that Religion in all Countries is an Affair of the greatest Concern, is taken for granted by all good Men, and seldom denied by the bad. This is the Reason, that in Religious Wars Men are more inveterate, and commit more Cruelties, than when they fight upon other Account. Here the worst and most vicious Men have fine Opportunities of gratifying their natural Malice and Rancour of Heart, without being blamed for it; and placing a Merit in doing Mischief. Therefore we see, that those, who are most neglectful of their Duty, and act most contrary to the Dictates of their Religion, are so often the most zealous in fighting for it. There are other Things that help, and all contribute, to make Religious Wars the most bloody. Men are commonly sure of Nothing so much, as they are of the Truth of the Religion they profess; so that in all Religious Quarrels, Every body is satisfied that he has Justice on his Side: This must make Man obstinate. The Multitude in all Countries ascribe to the Deities they worship the same Passions which they feel themselves; and knowing how well pleas'd they are with Every body that is on their Side, and will take their Part, they expect their Reward from Heaven, which they seem to defend; and on that Score they think with Delight on the Losses and Calamities which they make others suffer; whether Churchmen fight with Presbyterians, Papists with Protestants, or Mahometans with Christians of any Sort. Those who are of Opinion, that the best Christians make the best Soldiers, have commonly their Eyes on the Civil Wars both in France and in England.
Hor. And if you compare the Prince of Conde's Army with that of the League there, or Cromwell's Troops with the King's Forces here, the Whigs will tell you, that in either Nation you may meet with sufficient Proofs, to confirm the Opinion you speak of.
Cleo. I have Nothing to do with Whigs or Tories; but let us narrowly look into this Affair, and examine it impartially. Religion was brought into the Quarrel, you know, in both Kingdoms, and the Cases between the Adversaries here and there were much the same. The Huguenots and Roundheads on the one Side said, that they had Nothing so much at Heart as Religion; that the National Worship was Idolatry; that Christianity required no outward Shew of Altars or Vestments, but the Sacrifice of the Heart to be seen in Men's Lives; that God was to be serv'd with greater Strictness, than was observed by the National Clergy; that they fought his Cause, and did not question, but by his Help to obtain the Victory. The Leaguers and Cavaliers said on the other Side, that Lay-men, especially Soldiers, where improper Judges in Matters of Religion; that themselves were honest Men, loyal Subjects, who fought for the establish'd Church, their King and Country; and as to their Adversaries, that they were under a Parcel of Hypocritical Rascals, that under the Mask of Sanctity carried on an open Rebellion, and had no other Design than to dethrone the King, and get the Government into their own Clutches. Let us see the Consequence that would naturally follow from this Difference. The First, to support their Cause, would think it necessary not to be too glaringly inconsistent with themselves; therefore they would display somewhat more of Devotion, and by praying often, and perhaps singing of Psalms, make a greater Shew of Religion, than is commonly seen in Armies. Should the Chief of such Troops, and the great Men under him, who are most likely to get by the Quarrel, be more circumspect in their Actions, and attend Divine Worship oftner than is usual for Persons of Quality, their Example would influence the inferiour Officers, and these would take Care, that the Soldiers should comply, whether they would or not. If this was well perform'd on one Side, it is very natural to suppose, that the other, knowing the first to be no better Men than themselves, and believing them to be Hypocrites, would not only be offended at their Behaviour, but likewise, in Opposition to their Enemies, be more neglectful of Religious Duties, than well disciplin'd Armies generally are, and the Soldiers allow'd to be more dissolute in their Lives than is usual. By this Means the Contrast between two such Armies, would be very conspicuous. A good Politician may add to, or take from the Principle of Honour, what Virtue or Qualifications he pleases; and a skillful General, who can guard his own Actions, and will be at some Trouble in Self-denial where he may be observed, may model an Army as he thinks fit. All Superiors, in Camps as well as Courts, will ever serve for Patterns to their Inferiours; and should Officers unanimously resolve to render Swearing unfashionable, and in good Earnest set about this Task, by Example as well as Precept and Discipline, it would not be difficult to manage Soldiers in such a Manner, that in less than Half a Year not an Oath should be heard among them. If there were Two Armies in the Same Country, and of the same Nation, in one of which the Soldiers should curse and swear, as much as is commonly done among all loose, and ill-bred People, and in the other the Men should have been cured of that bad Custom, it is incredible what Reputation of being Good and Religious, those, who would only forbear Swearing, would gain beyond their Adversaries, tho' they were equally guilty with them of Whoring, Drinking, Gaming, and every other Vice except that one. Therefore if one General, to please and keep in with a Party, should think it his Interest that his Troops should make a greater Appearance of Godliness, than is commonly observed among Military Men; and another, to please a contrary Party, should take it to be his Interest to act as contrary as it was possible to what his Enemies did, and endeavour to be the Reverse of them, the Difference would be prodigious.
Hor. Then if in one Army they were Valiant, the General of the other would endeavour to make his Men Cowards.
Cleo. They would differ in every Thing that Soldiers can differ in: The Observance of the Point of Honour and Hatred to their Enemies are inseparable from their Calling; therefore resenting of Affronts among themselves, and cruel Usage to their Enemies, were not more banish'd from the Armies of the Huguenots and Roundheads, than they were from those of the Leaguers and Cavaliers.
Hor. The true Reason of the Difference, in the Lives and Morals of the Soldiers, between the King's Forces and the Rebels, was the Difference of their Circumstances, and the Care that was taken of them. The Parliament's Army was regularly provided for, and always able to pay for what they had. But the others, who were most commonly in Want, were forced to live upon the Country, and take their Provisions where they could get them; and this will make all Troops more dissolute and disorderly, than is consistent with the Service, tho' they had the best Officers in the World.
Cleo. The Misfortune you speak of, and which the King's Army labour'd under, must every where be a great Hinderance to Discipline; and I verily believe, that his Soldiers suffer'd very much in their Morals on Account of it; but I am persuaded, that the Contrariety of Principles, which I hinted at, was an Addition to that Misfortune, and made it worse; for that the Cavaliers laughed at the Roundheads for their praying so long and so often, and the great Shew they made of Devotion, is certain; and there is always a Pleasure in appearing to be the Reverse of what we ridicule in our Enemies. But whatever was then, or might at any other Time, be the true Reason of the Difference in the Shew of Piety and Goodness between two such Armies, let us see the Consequence of it, and the Effect it would naturally have on the sober Party. All Multitudes are superstitious; and among great Numbers, there are always Men prone to Enthusiasm; and if the Pretenders to Godliness had skilful Divines (as no doubt, they would have) that knew, how to extol the Goodness and Piety of the General and the Soldiers, declaim against the Wickedness and reprobate Lives of the Enemies, and remonstrate to their Hearers, how God must love the first, and, from his known Attributes, hate the latter, it would in all Probability produce every Thing we read of in the Armies of the Prince of Conde and the Parliament. Some Colonels would preach, and some Soldiers would learn Prayers and Scraps of Psalms by Heart, and many of them would grow more circumspect in indulging their Vices, than is common to Men of their Function. This latter would make the Men more governable, and consequently better Troops, and all together would make a great Noise. Besides, Mankind are so given to flatter themselves, that they'll believe any Thing, that is said in their Praise; and should, in any Regiment of such an Army, the Chaplain display his Eloquence before a Battle, exhort the Men to Bravery, speak in Commendation of the Zeal and Piety of the Officers and the Troops in general, and find out some particular Reason, why God should love and have Regard for that Regiment beyond any other, it might have a very good Effect upon the most Wicked, as well as the better Sort. And if this Chaplain, from what he knew of them, should pathetically encourage them, and promise them the Victory, Enthusiasm is so catching, that a Fellow, who lay with a Whore over Night, and was drunk the Day before, if he saw his Comrades moved, might be transported with Joy and Eagerness to fight, and be stupid enough to think, that he had a Share in God's Favour. The Greek and Roman Histories abound with Instances of the immense Use that may be made in War of Superstition well turn'd: The grossest, if skilfully managed, may make the fearful, undaunted, and the loosest Livers exert themselves to the utmost of their Power, from a firm Belief, that Heaven is on their Side. That Superstition has had this Effect upon Men of almost every Persuasion, as well as Heathen Idolaters, is certain; but he must be a notable Divine, that can expect the same from the Doctrine of Christ, faithfully deliver'd, and preach'd in its Purity. It is possible therefore that any Number of Troops may, by crafty Declamations and other Arts, be made Zealots and Enthusiasts, that shall fight and pray, sing Psalms one Hour, and demolish an Hospital the next; but you'll as soon meet with an Army of Generals or of Emperours, as you will with, I won't say an Army, but a Regiment, or even a Company of good Christians among Military Men. There never were better Troops, or Men that behaved with greater Gallantry and Chearfulness, than we had in the two last Wars; Officers as well as common Soldiers; but I would as soon believe, that it was Witchcraft that made them brave, as that it was their Religion.
Hor. Yet I have often heard it from experienc'd Officers, that the most virtuous, the soberest, and the most civiliz'd Fellows made the best Soldiers, and were those whom they could most depend upon.
Cleo. I heartily believe that to be true for the Generality; for I know, that by Virtuous, you don't mean much more than tolerably Honest, such as are not given to wrong or decieve Any body; or else among the Officers themselves, you know, that very Few of them are possess'd of many Christian Virtues, or would be fond of the Character. Do but consider what is required of a Soldier. There are Three Things which the officers are chiefly afraid of in their Men: The First is, that they may desert, which is so much Money lost: The Second, that they may rob or steal, and so come to be hang'd: The Third is, that they may be sick, and consequently incapable of doing Duty. Any middling Honest secures them entirely as to the two First; and, without Doubt, the less vicious; that is, the more sober and temperate the Men are, the more likely they are to preserve their Health. As for the Rest, Military Men are easy Casuists for the Generality, and are used to give, as well as take, large Grains of Allowance. A Soldier, who minds his Business, is seldom reproved for taking any Pleasure he can come at, without being complain'd of: And if he be brave, and understands his Exercise, takes Care always to be sober when he is upon Duty, pays a profound Respect to his Officers, as well as a strict Obedience to their Commands, watches their Eyes, and flies at a Nod, he can never fail of being beloved. And if moreover he keeps himself clean, and his Hair powder'd, is neat in his Cloaths, and takes Care not to be pox'd; let him do what he pleases for the Rest, he'll be counted a very valuable Fellow. A Man may do all this without Christianity, as well as he can do it without having an Estate. There are Thousands that are less circumspect and not half so well accomplish'd, who yet are well esteem'd in that Station. And as I have allow'd on the one Hand, that the soberest and the civiliz'd Fellows make the best Soldiers, and are, generally speaking, the most to be depended upon in an Army, so it is undeniable on the other, that, if not the major, at least a very considerable Part of our best Troops, that had the greatest Share in the Victories we obtain'd, was made up of loose and immoral, if not debauch'd and wicked Fellows. Nay, I insist upon it, that Jayl-birds, Rogues, who had been guilty of the worst of Crimes, and some that had been saved from the Gallows to recruit our Forces, did on many Occasions both in Spain, and Flanders, fight with as much Intrepidity, and were as indefatigable, as the most Virtuous amongst them. Nor was this any Thing strange or unexpected; or else the recruiting Officers ought to have been punish'd, for lifting and giving the Money of the Publick to Men, of whom there was no Probability that they could be made Soldiers. But to make it evident, how little the Religion and Morality of a Soldier are minded by his Superiours, and what great Care is taken to keep up and cultivate his Pride ——.
Hor. That latter I have seen enough of in the Fable of the Bees. You would speak about the Cloaths and Accoutrements.